WSBK – WSBK tests in Jerez: track record exploded, Guintoli crumpled … – Guintoli on the mat, De Puniet and Barrier on the turbine

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WSBK tests in Jerez: track record exploded, Guintoli crumpled…

WSBK - WSBK tests in Jerez: track record exploded, Guintoli crumpled ... - Guintoli on the mat, De Puniet and Barrier on the turbine

Bridged in their winter preparation by bad weather, the World Superbike teams have finally found good working conditions in Jerez. Ducati, Kawasaki and Aprilia riders are hot… and Guintoli made a heat. Shade !

Guintoli on the mat, De Puniet and Barrier on the turbine

Fourth fastest time three-quarters of a second behind his Italian teammate, Chaz Davies relishes starting a new year in the same team as the previous season … which has never happened to him for ten years (he was then riding in Grand Prize 250) !

"These tests were not easy", however indicates the Welsh."We had worked pretty well on the first day and I had a good feeling on the bike, but yesterday (Tuesday, Editor’s note) we encountered some issues that limited our work and made it impossible for us to enjoy our day".

Despite this setback, "Chazie" completed the same number of laps as Davide: "nearly 110 each", estimates the official Ducati Aruba team. The Ducati n ° 7 – no, not Carlos Checa: Chaz Davies! – admits that his"feeling on the bike is not yet perfect but we will continue to work from here Phillip Island".

The Bologna Reds already know what to work on in Australia: "we still have a few points, such as grip and max angle, which will still require work", reveals Ernesto Marinelli, director of the Superbike project at Ducati. He knows it:"the coming season will be very difficult and it is important to start on the right foot"… Exactly as Carlos Checa did for example, by winning the Superpole at the first exit of the Panigale ?!

Pinned to the pits a good part of the first day because of his Aprilia so dropped by his little comrades Monday night (+1.849 sec), Leon Haslam reacted very well on Tuesday by entering the Top 5, trailing Chaz Davies by 007 thousandths of a second : a great performance for the 2010 runner-up…

"We did a lot of laps today, more than anyone"declares the # 91, now perfectly at home on the RSV4."At the end of the test, we found a good pace in race simulation and I built up confidence, even managing to improve my best time on a soft tire.".

"It’s always been a problem for me", admits the" Pocket Rocket "who climbed 29 times on the podium in WSBK (including 3 victories) recorded four fastest laps in races but signed only one pole position, five years ago on Suzuki. "Making good use of the qualifying tire is another source of satisfaction", underlines the new recruit Aprilia Red Devils.

Just a second from the Top 5 and eight tenths behind his teammate Alex Lowes (6th), Randy de Puniet discovers not only a new bike and a new team – Suzuki Crescent – but also new tires and a new environment….

Unlike his previous tests in Portimao on the other hand, our national n ° 14 this time had for him a perfect knowledge of the track: "it was a lot in Jerez with two beautiful days, until this afternoon! I went high-side in the first corner, after coming out of the pits with a funny feeling", says Randy.

"So we wasted time and a little trust", he regrets,"but we tried to continue our work on the bike to find the good feeling". Overall satisfied with his Spanish tests and his pace on the track, the Frenchman is counting on the official tests in Australia – a bit at home then -"to adapt my riding style of the GSX-R".

In the meantime, however, the Suzuki rider has to travel to Sepang for the first MotoGP tests of the year (February 4-7). So let’s hope that running on the GSX-RR prototype and its Grand Prix Bridgestones will not disrupt Randy’s hard work of adapting to the GSX-R and its Pirelli Superbike….

"Randy did a decent test here", describes its team manager Paul Denning,"his best time on a race tire of 1 ‘41.9 is quite competitiveAs proof, it corresponds exactly to the one posted by the Aprilia test pilot present in Jerez: the double champion Max Biaggi !

"Sadly", observes Mister Denning,"he had a small loss up front in the hairpin, then suffered a high-side in the same spot as Guintoli the day before at the exit of the first corner. The repairs cost us a bit of time and Randy lost a bit of pace, but he came back with a 1 ‘40.9 on qualifying tires. It was not a perfect test, but a good job !"

Ronald Ten Kate cannot say the same for his new pilot, Sylvain Guintoli! Victim of a heavy fall on Monday, the n ° 1 got up with his neck and arm all sore. "I don’t like to land on my head too much !", joked the reigning world champion on his official Twitter account a few hours later.

The next day unfortunately, our dear "Guinters" did not take the track. While his little comrades were having fun like crazy on their motorcycles, Sylvain was condemned to play with his smartphone. This Thursday noon, he was still chirping from the bottom of his hyperbaric chamber…

Noyes rolls for Michelin, Aergerter for Akira

Alongside the Superbike machines – and two Supersport – circulated Monday and Tuesday in Jerez two mysterious "Ninjas". Credited riding one of them in the 18th time on the second day, Kenny Noyes wanted to clarify the situation…

"Just to be clear: I’m in the same garage as Akira but I’m here testing for Michelin on my Kawasaki ZX-10R with my CEV team…", posted Monday on Twitter the American rider. His neighbor for the two days, the Swiss Dominique Aergerter was indeed present at the controls of a MotoGP prototype, which could lead to confusion.

"I did a test with Avintia last year in Barcelona and several people from Akira attended", explained on his side" Domi "."They contacted me to do a new test here and for me it was a great opportunity to start the year before the February tests".

"The back is still very sore", informs Guintoli at the end of Thursday afternoon,"but i can put some weight on the ankle and i am glad there is nothing broken. The treatment has started and although it will take a while I am confident I will be fit and ready to start the season at Phillip Island next month.".

In the meantime, "Three short laps and then go" remains the short and cruel summary of Jerez’s tests for the "Number One" of the World Superbike. His teammate who wears the n ° 60 (but won the n ° 1 in the Supersport category last year!) Is for his part seventh in the tests at the controls of his lonely Fireblade.

On his S1000RR prepared by BMW Italia, our other Sylvain (Barrier!) Was noticed on Monday too, but for his very good result: the n ° 20 appeared on Monday evening in 6th place on the list of best lap times, making it fair three quarters of a second to leader Jonathan Rea.

Tuesday evening, our double Superstock 1000 champion – in 2012 and 2013, with BMW Italia already – demoted to 12th position. "After difficult tests in Portimao, those in Jerez were very positive", remembers" Syl’20 ".

"I am starting to perceive and exploit the potential of the 2015 version of my S1000RR", rejoices the colt of James Toseland."I found a good feeling with the bike and in no time I managed to turn really fast. But we have to keep working and strive to get closer to the fastest riders".

Still far from the very best times, Sylvain Barrier can be satisfied to move ahead in the ranking of these last WSBK tests in Europe to the winner of the fleeting "Evo" category – which appeared and disappeared in 2014! – David Salom, still on Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Finally, far from the unofficial record slammed by Davide Giugliano, the two drivers of the EBR Hero team are heading to Australia with their satchels full of homework to do. Niccolo Canepa, significantly faster than his teammate and team manager Larry Pegram, is fighting with the official Kawasaki … in the Supersport category! At the end of the second day, the Italian was ahead of Kenan Sofuoglu by only six tenths of a second.

"I am pleasantly surprised because the other teams had already carried out tests in Jerez and we are only in the learning phase on the EBR", says Niccolo,"I expected a bigger gap between the other pilots and me".

Among the strengths of its American machine, number 88 quotes "electronics – better than on my bike from last year – and traction / wheelie control which works great". Used to Ducati’s" Superquadro "twin-cylinder, Niccolo says that"the characteristics of the EBR Hero are very different, so I have to adjust my style"… to improve your lap times !

Certainly, Canepa broke the record for a track in the United States this winter … But he will still have to train a lot and greatly improve his 1190RX before holding out against the Ducati, Kawasaki and Aprilia riders. Business to follow on Site of course: stay connected !

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